Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin A
For the body system: Senses

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Vitamin A is scientifically validated as essential for supporting the "Senses" body system, particularly in relation to vision. Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble retinoids, including retinol, retinal, and retinyl esters. Its role in vision is well-documented; it is a vital component of rhodopsin, a protein in the retina that absorbs light and is necessary for both low-light (scotopic) and color vision. Deficiency of vitamin A is a leading cause of preventable blindness in children globally, and symptoms of deficiency include night blindness and, in severe cases, complete loss of vision due to xerophthalmia and keratomalacia.

Numerous clinical and epidemiological studies confirm that adequate intake of vitamin A prevents these ocular conditions. The World Health Organization and many national health agencies recommend vitamin A supplementation in areas where deficiency is common, citing strong evidence for its protective effect on eye health. While vitamin A also plays roles in skin, immune, and reproductive health, its connection to the senses—specifically sight—is the most direct and scientifically substantiated. There is no credible evidence that vitamin A supplementation improves vision in people who are not deficient, but its role in maintaining normal vision and preventing deficiency-related sensory impairment is indisputable.

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